Question

A trail mix is made by adding pecans that sell for

$
2.50
per pound to chocolate candies that sell for
$
1.00
per pound. How much of each should be used to get
60
pounds of trail mix that sells for
$
1.70
per pound?

Answer 1

Let x be the number of pounds of pecans and y be the number of pounds of chocolate candies. We can set up a system of two equations to represent the given information:

x + y = 60 (1) (the total weight of the trail mix is 60 pounds)
2.5x + y = 1.7(60) (2) (the total cost of the trail mix is 1.7 times the total weight)

We want to solve for x and y.

From equation (1), we have:

y = 60 - x

Substituting this expression for y into equation (2), we get:

2.5x + (60 - x) = 102

Simplifying this equation, we get:

1.5x = 42

x = 28

Substituting this value for x into the expression for y, we get:

y = 60 - 28 = 32

Therefore, we need 28 pounds of pecans and 32 pounds of chocolate candies to make 60 pounds of trail mix that sells for $1.70 per pound !